The NKBA Luxury Bath Summit served up some ideas on how sophisticated integrated technology and state-of-the-art materials can inspire design.
By Dianne M. Pogoda
Technology would seem to be a counterintuitive element of a space that’s meant to impart a luxurious, spa-like relaxation, but it’s actually quite relevant. In fact, many designers will say you can’t have luxury without technology — but it has to be a silent partner.
Blue Arnold, CMKBD, owner of Kitchens by Request in Jarrettsville, Md., and his client, Adele Greenbaum, a commercial designer, discussed her three-floor home renovation during the NKBA Luxury Bath Summit, presented in partnership with Cambria and sponsored by House of Rohl. In this project, Greenbaum was inspired to push tech to the edge in her bathroom, and Arnold accommodated by specifying state-of-the-art technology and materials in a unique, stunning design.
Pamela McNally, NKBA VP of Marketing, moderated the session. She began by asking about the overall vision for the bathroom.
“Adele was clear that she wanted a space that was very fashion-forward, contemporary but approachable and timeless,” said Arnold.
Greenbaum added, “We decided early on that we wanted to build a spaceship, and this bathroom is the crown jewel of the house. We wanted a luxury space where my husband and I could — individually or together — have a large place to get ready, or to relax.”
Arnold layered unique materials and mixed textures: highly polished polyester finishes, opaque white glass in the vanities, lacquered wood, marble, quilted leather.
The centerpiece of the space is a dramatic, full-wall mosaic of a Roman goddess along the back wall of the enormous shower, which can be seen from several vantage points in the bathroom. The mosaic was created in Italy and re-assembled on site. The walls and ceiling of the shower are solid black tile, giving the shower space a cave-like quality. The bench seat echoes the white marble with gray veining that makes up the vanity, and the seat and shower floor are also heated. The heat control is integrated into the home’s digital system as well, so the floor and seat temperature may be individually regulated.
The design includes tremendous storage and integrated technology, in which LED lighting plays a big role. Large mirrors have long vertical light strips on the sides for soft, ambient lighting, and recessed overhead lighting is mudded in to avoid distracting trim pieces around the fixtures. Finally, the vanity appears to float from the glow of LED lights installed underneath. “It adds a great ambiance but it’s also a safety feature, especially at night,” said Arnold.
Outlets for a hair dryer, hot rollers, electric razors or other small appliances are hidden in the cabinets while integrated speakers and sound system play music. To allow ample natural light, Arnold installed a huge window behind the freestanding soaker tub, but added a motorized roller shade, hidden in a well at the bottom of the window, that operates from the floor up to provide privacy.
Arnold said it’s important to work with a technology integrator, especially as projects become more complex. “The integrator programs the products and makes them all work seamlessly together, from a single platform, whether it’s a smart toilet, lighting, HVAC, security, motorized shading solutions, and any other element in the space,” said Arnold. “You don’t have to think about it.”
He said the integrator can orchestrate “scenes” to set the space the way the homeowner wants it at a specific time of day. For instance, soft lighting for the middle of the night, or brighter lighting in the morning — as the shower and heated floor are pre-warmed.
Another reason to enlist the services of an integrator, Arnold said, is that it can take months to get all the tech operating flawlessly, and an expert makes this happen. “Ultimately, the technology has to be humanized so it’s approachable and easy to use. And not only for the homeowners, but for guests. We don’t want anyone to have to figure out how to turn the light on.”
Designer and client concurred that detailed, open and frequent communication was paramount during the project, which took three years from start to finish. They attended a home builders show together, to get an idea of all the technology and other products on the market, and worked to ensure that the products met the lifestyle needs of how these homeowners would use the space.
McNally asked about the importance of brands in the project. The platform they used was Crestron, which allowed all the tech pieces to be pulled into a single, easy-to-use application, which can always be expanded. Arnold said brands represent quality of the product and aesthetics, but most importantly, how easy the product is to service if something needs to be repaired. “We used brands that I’m familiar with because I know they’ll work the way I want them to, and they will last.”
Arnold said the elements that pushed this project over the top were the fully custom cabinetry, as well as the shower, including multiple water delivery devices and the high level of built-in technology. The project also includes a backup generator, because everything is controlled via Wi-Fi. As for “future-proofing” the technology, Arnold said they kept it simple enough for practically everyone to use, that the technology is hidden but fully integrated, and that the pieces can be swapped out to update control panels.
NKBA’s Luxury Bath Summit was based on the exclusive 2022 Luxury Bath research report. The report is available for NKBA members to download as part of their annual membership. Non-members may purchase the report for $1,995. Visit NKBA Research to download.
The Luxury Bath Summit is available to watch on demand. Members need to log in to nkba.org and may view at no additional charge; non-members who registered may access the videos as part of their registration fee; other non-members may purchase the video package for $99. Click here for more.
